Senators urge for shooting down U.S. spy planes

Senators urge for shooting down U.S. spy planes

It was another chilly day but not for the government that faced a variety of criticisms during the Senate session in which resumption of drone strikes was more prominent one.

Senators across party lines urged the incumbent first and foremost to execute the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) to shoot down the U.S. spy planes those violating Pakistani soil.

By staging a token walkout, the lawmakers registered their protest over the recent drone attacks in North Waziristan that allegedly claimed many lives.

Leader of the Opposition in Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri while speaking on point of order said that drone strikes had started again on Pakistani territory contrary to the government and army announcements that they will not allow to doing so.

He observed, “Don’t make tall claims if you (government) don’t have the courage to stop drone strikes. If the civilian government and military leadership army had no courage to stop drone strikes then they should at least lodge a case against U.S.-led forces in an international court for violating Pakistan’s sovereignty.”

Interior Minister Rehman Malik, responding to Haideri’s point of order, stated the U.S. government should care about the voice of the Pakistani people. He went on to say that it was a direct hit by the U.S. on Pakistani territory, which could not be accepted.

The minister called upon the Senate to pass a resolution, which will be presented in the United Nations (UN) to stop the U.S. hostility.

He observed, “The joint session of Parliament will come up with a remedy for drone attacks. We have tried to convince the US that such actions will be counter-productive”.

Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Khurshid Ahmed flayed severe criticism at the government, saying the incumbent had failed gloomily to apply the standing instructions of the Parliament.

Why the decision to shoot down drones had not been implemented if it was supported by both Parliament and the masses, he asked.

The PML-N, the second largest party, contrary to its outburst against drone attacks, avoided taking part in the JUI-F and JI walkout from the Senate to stage protest against drone strikes.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 25 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.